The Best Disney World Resorts for Adults (Ranked by Bars, Pools, & Budget)

Let’s be real: a Disney trip with just adults is a completely different sport.

I don’t care *how* cute the splash pad is. If I’ve walked 20,000 steps in the Florida humidity, I want a drink that isn’t neon blue and a pool where no one is screaming “MARCO” every 4 seconds.

Most sites will tell you “Every Disney hotel is great for adults!” but we’re going to be honest. Some of these places are loud, chaotic, and feel more like a mall food court than a vacation.

If you are planning a Girls Trip or a romantic getaway, you need a sanctuary. We ranked the top resorts at Disney World based on proximity to alcohol, transportation ease, and bang for your buck.

The “Cheatsheet” Ranking

Don’t have time to read? Here is the quick breakdown.

Rank	Resort	Best For…	The Honest Vibe
1	Gran Destino Tower	The “Vegas” Feel (Without the Slots)	Luxury, but not judgey
2	Yacht Club	Epcot Access	Stuffy, quiet, & heavy on the starch
3	Polynesian Resort	Resort Days	Tropical escapism (No park ticket needed)
4	BoardWalk Inn	Nightlife	Chaotic Good (open late)
5	Swan & Dolphin	Budget Luxury	“Convention Center Chic” (but cheap)
6	Pop Century	Budget Logistics	Loud, but the Skyliner saves it
7	All-Star Music	The Cheapest Sleep	It’s a motel, but it works
8	Port Orleans – French Quarter	Romance	Jazz, beignets, & quiet streets

1. Gran Destino Tower (at Coronado Springs)

The Heavyweight Champion of Adult Disney.

In my experience, this is the only hotel on Disney property that feels like it was built for adults first and families second. It caters to the convention crowd, so it was designed for people with fancy expense accounts who probably are gonna want a nice cocktail, not just a Mickey pretzel.

But, even though the target audience are convention goers, there are still plenty of Disney touches in the rooms and lobby (so it still feels like you are onsite).

• The Bar Situation: You have three distinct options without leaving the building. Dahlia Lounge on the roof has the best views on property, the Barcelona Lounge in the lobby is great for a pre-park coffee or nightcap, and Three Bridges is an open-air bar in the middle of the lake.
• Why It Wins: It feels like a “Real World” luxury hotel. You don’t feel like you are sleeping inside a cartoon.
• Escaping the Kids: The Tower doesn’t have its own pool. It overlooks the main “Dig Site” pool, but you should skip that if you’re looking for something relaxing. Pro Tip: Walk over to the Casitas Village Pool. It is a massive “quiet pool” that is usually empty because the families are all at the main slide.
• The Logistics: It is a bus resort, which usually sucks. However, because this is a business hotel, the buses are often less chaotic than the ones at the Value resorts. Read our guide on How to Get to Magic Kingdom to master the loops here.

2. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

For the couple who wants to be left alone.

The Yacht Club is the serious, buttoned-up brother of the Beach Club. While the Beach Club lobby is usually full of kids in wet swimsuits, the Yacht Club lobby is dark wood, brass, and (near) silence.

• The Best Feature: Crew’s Cup Lounge might be the best hidden gem on property. It is dark, quiet, and rarely crowded. It is the perfect place to decompress if the sensory overload of the parks gets too high.
• Location, Location, Location: You are a 5-minute walk from Epcot’s World Showcase. This means you don’t have to worry about transportation after a night out; you just walk home.
• The Pool Situation: Everyone fights for Stormalong Bay (the massive sand-bottom pool). This leaves the Admiral Pool totally deserted. It’s tucked away in a garden and is pure peace.
• Transportation Reality: You have the best location on property. You can walk to Epcot for dinner every night. Not sure how that works? Check out How to Get to Disney Springs if you want to mix up your nightlife, but honestly, you’ll probably just stay near the Boardwalk.

3. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

For the “We Aren’t Even Going to the Parks” Trip.

If your goal is to sit by a pool with an umbrella drink and forget that email exists, this is the one. It is expensive, but it offers the best “vacation mode” vibes on property.

• The Adult Perk: You can watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the hotel beach. You get the music, the view, and the magic all without buying a park ticket and without fighting the crowds on Main Street.
• The Bar Situation: Legendary. In addition to Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto (which is one of the best Tiki Bars around), You have the Barefoot Pool Bar for easy access to drinks with umbrellas, the Tambu Lounge for a lapu lapu (served in a pineapple), and the new open air Wailulu Bar & Grill over at the Polynesian Island Tower (the DVC tower next door to the main Polynesian Resort).
• The Pool: Skip the Volcano pool (it’s chaos). Go to the Oasis Pool. It is lush, private, and has its own bar and food service so you never have to leave your lounge chair.
• The Logistics: You are on the Monorail loop, which is iconic (and perfect for a Monorail bar crawl), but you can also walk to the Ticket & Transportation Center for a direct monorail to EPCOT if you do decide to go to the parks.

4. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn

For the Night Owls.

This is the only resort that is technically an entertainment district. If you want to close down the bar and stumble to your room, this is it. It is louder than the Yacht Club, but much more fun.

• Adult Spaces: You have AbracadaBar (magician-themed cocktails), the Belle Vue Lounge (with seating outdoors overlooking the action on The BoardWalk) and the Atlantic Dance Hall if you are looking for some dancing. It is the only place at Disney that feels like actual nightlife. Note: The very popular JellyRolls Dueling Piano Bar that was once a staple of the BoardWalk has permanently closed.
• The Quiet Pool: The main pool is famous for the scary clown slide (RIP, it’s Mickey now), but the quiet pool in the Rose Garden courtyard is genuinely hidden. It’s usually empty because everyone is on the boardwalk side of the resort.
• The Logistics: You can walk or take a boat to two parks (Epcot and Hollywood Studios). If you are trying to rope drop Star Wars, check out How to Get to Hollywood Studios; staying here gives you a massive advantage over everyone relying on buses.

5. The “Budget Luxury” Hack: Swan & Dolphin

For the Points Hacking Pro.

Okay, technically these are Marriott hotels, not “Disney” hotels. But they are located literally next to the Yacht Club. You get the same location. You can walk to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. And you get it for often half the price of the Disney resorts next door.

• The Amenities: The dining here is actually better than most Disney hotels. Phins in the Dolphin lobby and Todd English’s bluezoo offer a high-end atmosphere that feels more “Miami” than “Magic Kingdom.”
• The Trade-Offs: You can’t use Disney MagicBands to pay for things, and the theming is less “Disney Magic” and more “Marriott Carpet.” But for the price? Who cares.

6. The “I Just Need a Bed” Pick: Disney’s Pop Century

For the Strategist on a Budget.

If you refuse to pay $500 a night but still want great transportation, this is basically your only move.

• Why It’s Worth It: The Disney Skyliner. You can fly directly to Epcot and Hollywood Studios from your hotel room. No other “Value” resort aside from Art of Animation (which is typically more expensive) has this. It makes getting home after Epcot closes incredibly easy because you don’t have to wait for a bus.
• The Warning Label: It is LOUD. The walls are paper-thin. You will hear the toilet flush in the room next door. One bed folds down (but we promise it is still as comfy as a regular bed!).
• Survival Strategy: Request a room in the 1960s section (lake view) on the top floor. It is the furthest you can get from the main noisy pool while still being close to the Skyliner. Bring earplugs.

7. The “Rock Bottom” Price: Disney’s All-Star Music

For the “We Are Never in the Room” Crowd.

If Pop Century is too expensive, this is your backup. It is usually the cheapest hotel on property.

• The Vibe: It is a motel-style resort. However, All-Star Music tends to be quieter than All-Star Sports (which is full of youth teams) and All-Star Movies (which is full of toddlers).
• The Annoying Part: You are on the bus system for everything. Getting to Epcot can take 45 minutes. But if you save $100 a night, that might be worth it.
• Pro Tip: If you are doing a Girls Trip with 4-5 people, book a Family Suite here. It gives you 2 bathrooms plus a kitchenette for morning coffee.

8. The “Romantic Bonus”: Port Orleans French Quarter

For the Beignets & Jazz Lovers.

We almost snubbed this one because it lacks a table-service restaurant, but the nightlife saved it. It deserves a spot.

• The Vibe: It is the smallest resort on property, meaning no massive treks to your room. It has gas lamps, cobblestone streets, and genuine romance.
• The Nightlife: Scat Cat’s Club offers live jazz and stiff drinks. It feels like an actual lounge, not a theme park bar.
• The Snack: Mickey Beignets. And yes, you can get them injected with Baileys or Kahlúa. This alone might be why it made the list.
• The Trade-Off: As mentioned, there is no sit-down restaurant here. You have to take a boat to Disney Springs or walk to Riverside for a steak. But for a quiet, romantic weekend? It works.

The “Why We Snubbed Them” List

Why isn’t [Insert Popular Hotel] on this list?

Disney’s Grand Floridian:

It’s beautiful, but it attracts a lot of “Once in a Lifetime” families. The lobby is busy, and you spend half your time dodging strollers just to get to the monorail. It lacks the laid-back energy of the Yacht Club.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge:

I know, I know. It has the giraffes. I love the giraffes. I will happily sit at Jiko for three hours.

But I’ve stayed here on adults-only trips, and every single time I’ve ended up annoyed at how long it takes to do anything. You are a 20+ minute bus ride from Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Magic Kingdom. If you want to grab a drink at Disney Springs, it’s a trek. If you plan to just sit on your balcony and look at zebras, book it. If you plan to actually go anywhere, skip it.

Disney’s Contemporary Resort:

People claim this is “Adult” because it’s modern and walkable to Magic Kingdom. But, it is loud (thanks to Chef Mickey’s echoing through the atrium), the pool is boring, and it costs $900 a night to look at a parking lot unless you pay extra for a theme park view. Save your money and stay at the Gran Destino Tower instead.

So, you picked a hotel. Now how do you get around?

Once you pick your hotel, the next step is figuring out how to move between the parks and the resorts. Don’t wing it. Read our Complete Guide to Disney World Transportation to avoid the bus lines and maximize your pool time.